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Students’ Information Package

‘Pioneer Life Study’

2016CONTENTS

1. GENERAL INFORMATION ………………………… Pg 22. STUDENT STUDY SUGGESTIONS Pg. 2-3 3. LOG CABIN TOUR ………………………………........ Pg 4-6

4. ANTIQUE TRACTOR DISPLAY………………………Pg 7-95. THRESHING DEMONSTRATION…………………….Pg 9-116. ANTIQUE CAR DISPLAY……………………………..Pg 11-13

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7. ANTIQUE TOOLS AND GAS ENGINE……………….Pg 14-158. MODEL DISPLAYS…………………………… Pg 169. SEED IDENTIFICATION …………………………… Pg. 1610. MINIATURE HORSES & SMALL ANIMALS………. .Pg.1711. SCAVENGER HUNT…………………………………. .Pg. 17

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Huron Pioneer Thresher & Hobby Association is celebrating its 53rd anniversary and would like to invite school children to be part of their show. It is especially an opportunity for those studying pioneer life, as part of the curriculum, to see first hand many of the tools and early machines used by our ancestors.

Students will be able to meet people and ask questions, of those who have an interest in preserving history by collecting, restoring or building models of this early equipment.

The attached material is provided to help plan a visit to the show, it can be adapted and added to, to fit the needs of the class. Writing, mathematical, and research activities are included to name a few.

Brochures, which include a schedule of daily events and a site map, are available at the gates. It is suggested that students visit the various displays in random order so as avoid crowding, but keep in mind that some demonstrations have specific times.

SUGGESTIONS AND BACKGROUND FOR

STUDENT STUDY PACKAGE

Pioneer Life right on our own doorstep:

“When the first settlers came to what is now Huron County clearing a plot of land was their first priority – even before they built their first permanent dwelling. The clearing of land was a massive undertaking, especially with the primitive tools of the time. After the settlers had cleared a few acres of land and planted their crops, the next step was the establishment of a permanent house and a barn. These buildings were first made out of logs which had been cut during the land clearing process; later, after farmers had established themselves, larger brick and frame structures were not uncommon. By the middle of the 19th century, Huron County was an active agricultural area within Ontario. Agriculture also began to become more mechanized with the introduction of reapers, mowers, horse rakes, threshing machines, fanning mills and finally the steam engine. Today, Huron County is the most agriculturally productive County in Ontario and a world leader in numerous areas of agricultural technology and innovation. Many descendants of the original 19th century settlers continue to farm and live in Huron County.

Excerpt from The Settlement of Huron County by James ScottCopyright, 1966.

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Discussion: From what country did your family originate? Which ancestors settled here? i. e. Your Great-great Ask your Grandfather or some older member of your family: - where did they first settle?

- when did they come to Huron County?-

LOG CABIN TOUR

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A number of years ago a log cabin was moved, on a large truck, from a site a few kilometers west of the village of Blyth. Great care was taken to restore this two storey home so that visitors can see how early families lived in our community at that time.

EXTERIOR The large logs placed on top of each other were probably saved when the settler cleared the land to plant crops.

1. How are the ends of the logs shaped at the corners and why?2. Since the sides of the logs are not perfectly flat so as to fit together

tightly, what was used to fill the spaces – now and in the early days?3. What is used to cover the roof?4. Notice the chimneys, what material is used and why are there two on

this home?5. There were no lumber stores to buy material to build such a home so

where would they get the building material?6. Find out what three or four main tools were used by the builders.

INTERIOR

1. This particular log cabin has two rooms on the first floor, which of these rooms do you think was the busiest?

2. In the kitchen, observe several items (5 or6) that were used by the early housewife but are not part of today’s kitchen. Find out what these items were used for.

3. What activities do you think the other large room was used for?

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4. How was the home heated in the cold weather and what provided light in the evenings?

5. What was the upper floor used for and how was it heated?6. Early beds often had rope fastened across the bed frame instead of

springs and instead of a mattress you slept on a feather tick. Discover what material was used to make a feather tick.

SOCIAL LIFE

In pioneer days everything had to be done by hand and it was very hard work. Help was made easier with the oxen and later the use of horses. Often the neighbours got together to do “work bees” and then they went back and helped their neighbours. Everyone would work very hard all day and then join together for a big meal prepared by the woman, who enjoyed the day visiting and working together. After the meal they might have enjoyed music and dancing to fiddles and the harmonica etc. Another social event, especially for the young people, was attending a ‘Box Social’. Ask an older family member if they can explain this to you.

SUGGESTED CLASS ACTIVITIES

1. In small groups plan the menu to feed 12 hungry men who have buzzed wood all day (wood bee). It is mid October; therefore, keep in mind that fresh vegetables right out of the garden would be at an end. Since there are no freezers to store meat and vegetable, think of how vegetables were stored over the winter, how was meat kept, etc. Dessert was what many men judged how good the meal was.

2. Knowing that there were no radios, televisions, or daily newspapers keep a diary for one week of how your pioneer family spent the evenings after the outdoor chores were done. Include what each family might have done and how they interacted with each other.

3. ‘Wash Day’ was a busy day for the pioneer housewife; write a comparison of a modern-day wash day and that of the pioneer. Include all the steps that each have to go through.

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4. Illustrate your wash day scene as it might appear on a calendar picture.

5. While visiting the Log Cabin try your hand at:

a) making butter out of creamb) washing clothes and use a hand wringer.

ANTIQUE TRACTOR DISPLAY

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Each year the Show Officials focus on a different tractor make, this year the feature tractor is the International Farmall.

ACTIVITY A) List FIVE model numbers on the International tractors. i)_______ii)______iii_______iv)_______v)______

Circle the number of the biggest tractor Put a box around the smallest tractor.

B) List the names of FIVE other tractor makes on display.

i)________________ v)___________________

ii)________________ vi)___________________

ii)________________

. Most of the tractors on display are restored to how they looked when they were new.

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Restoring a tractor can take many hours of loving labour, and patience. Sometimes parts may be broken or missing and the restorer has to search for original parts, if possible. Often times someone who gets into restoring tractors and other machinery begins with the first tractor that they remember on their father’s or grandfather’s farm.

OTHER ANTIQUE TRACTORS

Many of the tractor makes that are on display are no longer manufactured; therefore, you would not see them at machinery dealerships.

Can you find the following?

• A dark red tractor that has the big letters IHC________________.• An orange tractor with the emblem of the world with an eagle

sitting on it __________________________.• I’m a green tractor and make a different engine noise than the

other tractors _______________________.• A bright yellow tractor and I’m named after two cities in the

U.S.__________________________________.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY

1. Interview an older family member, friend, or neighbour to see what they remember about the first tractor on their farm. Write an account of how they felt the day the tractor arrived and some of their fond memories.

2. Create an advertisement that may have appeared in a magazine about the tractor.

THRESHING DEMONSTRATION

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Great strides have taken place in the way harvesting of grain has changed from early pioneer days to the modern day large combine which can harvest 80 to over 100 acre fields in one day. The top left picture demonstrates threshing of grain 60 to 20 years ago (some groups still use this type of threshing machine)

In very early days the grain stocks were beat with a flail and the wind separated the grain from the straw and chaff, this was called ‘winnowing’.

At first the grain crop was cut with a scythe and the stocks tied into bundles, later the ‘cradle’ was invented and the stocks lay in a bundle on cradle part. This made it easier to tie the bundles.

The horse drawn ‘reaper’ (top right) made harvesting much easier as it was not as labour intensive. The ‘binder’ came later and tied bundles automatically. These bundles are called ‘sheaves’, you’ll see these on the wagons by the threshing machines during the demonstrations.

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The steam engine provided the power to run the threshing machine and to pull it on the roadways as it moved from farm to farm. It took several people to look after the steam engine and threshing machine.

Usually there was someone to draw water, in the wooden water tank, from a nearby creek or stream and there was someone to keep the fire stoked-up with wood which had to be close at hand. There was a main person to see that the thresher was in good repair and operating correctly.

ACTIVITIES

• What harvesting equipment is on display?• At the threshing demonstration, do the men place the sheaves on

the feeder part of the thresher in a certain way?• How is the twine cut on the sheaf as it enters the machine?• Observe the material (straw, etc.) as it moves through the

machine.• The threshing machine was often referred to as a separator, why

was this an appropriate name?

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

• Research by interviewing older family members or friends who may remember actual threshing at their farm or stories their parents told them about threshing bees.

• Since work was hard at threshing bees, men had big appetites. Could you plan a meal that might be served to 10 or 12 hungry threshers?

• Divide the class into small groups to plan and create dioramas to illustrate a timeline of the development of harvesting, i.e. from the flail to the large modern combine.

ANTIQUE CAR DISPLAY

The very first automobiles, in the early 1900’s, were often referred to as the ‘horseless carriage’. Why do you think they were called by this name?It wasn’t until the 1920’s that cars were more affordable for families to purchase. This was partly due to Henry Ford’s factory which built cars on an assembly line. The car that they made was the famous ‘Model T’ Ford. The feature car this year is the Ford Model T.

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As you look at the car display, record the names of car makes that are no longer made. ____________________, ______________, ___________,

_________________, __________________________.

Notice the shape of the early cars, how is it different from the modern car?

What is one word that describes the modern car’s shape compared to the early auto? ___________________.

STUDENT ACTIVITY

1) Study several car advertisements in newspapers and magazines noting the descriptive words and phrases that attempt to persuade someone to purchase the car. Now go back in time and make up an advertisement that may have appeared in the paper to advertise a car you see in the display.

2. Ask an older family member or relative about the first car they can remember in their family. Write a brief report about their memories and find a picture if possible.

Your report may look something like this:

OUR 1936 FORD COUPE

The first car that I remember as a child was a black 1936 Ford Coupe, that is, it only had the one bench seat. Since there were six in our family, four children and my parents it was quite crowded.

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I remember that my older sister and I sat or lay up at the back- window; this didn’t give us much room, especially when we were 8 and 10 years old. My younger brother sat between my parents and my baby sister who was 2 or 3 years old, sat on my mother’s knee.

I recall my dad talking about the brakes on the car, that they were not very dependable; I believe he said that they were mechanical brakes. One time they were very good and the next time you could step on the brake peddle and ‘ouch’ no brakes. One Saturday, Dad and my older sister went to Wingham and as they approached a narrow bridge, there was lots of them in those days, a team and wagon were crossing the bridge. When Dad stepped on the brakes, the peddle went to the floor, he had to do some great maneuvering to avoid an accident.

Well guess what, he never brought that little ’36 Ford Coupe home, instead he bought a brand new 1950 Meteor. That was our very first new car.

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ANTIQUE TOOLS & GAS ENGINE DISPLAY

As stated before, the life of the ‘pioneer family’ was very labour intensive, that is, most of the work had to be done by hand. Wouldn’t it be a great relief if there was just some new invention to help with some of the chores?A mechanism somewhat like a modern day treadmill was invented so that a dog could walk on the platform and hence turn a small machine. This was known as ‘dog power’ later larger platforms were built so that a horse could walk and power a larger machine. Naturally this was called horse power. Both of these are on display on the grounds.

The big breakthrough came with the invention of the gas engine. As you attend the display find out what work this could do on the farm to make life easier. What was the purpose of the two big, heavy wheels on the gas engine? Why is there water in the bowl of the engine?

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Numerous antique tools are on display; classify at least three groups as to their use, for example which tools would have been used by a carpenter or barn builder, would any be used by a blacksmith?

CARPENTER FARMER BLACKSMITH

Arrange these items in the correct column: adze, charcoal, fork, hammer, flail, broad-axe, anvil, plow, heavy gloves, brace & bit, cradle, cant-hook, reaper, block & tackle, scythe.

SEE ANSWERS AT END OF BOOKLET (pg. 1

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MODEL DISPLAYS

ACTIVITIES

1. Ask some of the exhibitors who are showing their working models what scale was used to build their model.

2. Looking at the large steam engines or models notice-

-how the front wheels are steered-what they use for fuel -the large piston of cylinder-the purpose of the large pulley or fly wheel

At the show you will see many small replicas of the larger machines. Some people spend hundreds of hours at this hobby building these small models, being very careful with even the smallest details.

You will see working models of a variety of machines from model steam engines, little threshing machines, and small sawmills to name a few.

Models are built to scale, that is to say, they are a fraction of the size of the real thing. It is necessary to do this so that everything is in proportion.

Can you explain the meaning of proportion in your own words?

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SEED IDENTIFICATION: Visit the display near the ‘reaper and binder’ display # 7 on site map. See if you can make the light glow by identifying a variety of seeds, i.e. barley, oats, wheat, spelt, beans, corn, sorghum, etc.

Miniatures Horses and Other Small Animals (Three Little Pigs)

As you observe the miniature animals, try to estimate their size in relation to the actual size of the regular animal of that species. In other words, is the miniature horse, for example ½ the size of a regular horse?

SCAVENGER HUNT

AS YOU EXPLORE THE EXHIBITS AROUND THE GROUNDS SEE IF YOU CAN MATCH UP THESE ITEMS. ( ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND AT INFORMATION BOOTH)

1.__________ a) DOVED TAILED CORNERS 11)________ k) WINDMILL

2.__________ b) GAS ENGINE 12)________ l) WASH BOARD

3.__________ c) REAPER 13)________ m) ROPE BED

4.__________ d) 77 OLIVER TRACTOR 14)________ n) 1950 DODGE SUBUR

5. __________ e) CREAM SEPARATOR 15)________ o) STOOK

6. __________ f) WIRE TIED BALE 16)________ p) BROAD AXE

7.__________ g) GRAIN SHEAF 17)________ q) CHINKING

8.__________ h) PUMP JACK 18)________ r) HORSE POWER

9.__________ i) WATER RAM 19)________ s) QUILTING FRAMES

10)_________ j) STEAM POWER SHOVEL 20)________ t) MINIATURE HORSES

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PG. 15 ANSWERS: CARPENTER- adze, hammer, broad axe, brace & bit, cant-hook, block& tackle,

FARMER: fork, flail, plow, cradle, reaper, scythe

BLACKSMITH: charcoal, anvil heavy gloves